Tara Elaine Nykoluk (DOB 12/19/75), of Simi Valley, was sentenced on May 14, 2021, to 3 years 8 months in state prison. On April 15, a jury convicted Nykoluk of felony embezzlement, forgery, and an excessive taking allegation. This case was jointly investigated by the Simi Valley Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office Fraud and Technology Crimes Unit.
From 2006 through 2015, Nykoluk worked as a part-time bookkeeper for T&M Plumbing, a small plumbing company based in Van Nuys. In 2015, Nykoluk was fired after her theft was discovered. An audit revealed Nykoluk embezzled approximately $348,000 over eight years, through unauthorized company debit card payments and checks. Nykoluk used the stolen funds to pay for vacations, meals at restaurants, and ordinary consumer goods and services.
After being sentenced, Nykoluk was immediately remanded into the Ventura County Jail to begin serving her prison term. Nykoluk is scheduled to appear for a restitution hearing on June 28, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. in courtroom 47 of the Ventura County Superior Court.